Confederation+-+The+Quebec+Conference


 * The Quebec Conference**

 The Quebec Conference, was the secondary conference leading to the conception of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. A month earlier important politicians from the four different colonies: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Canada convinced each other at the Charlottetown Conference that it was best for all of them to create a federation. The quebec conference began on October 10 and lasted 2 weeks. John A. MacDonald from upper Canada wanted a legislative union-that all meaningful decisions should be made by a distinguished central government and legislature. He called attention to the American Civil War, how it possibly started because they had too many powerful state governments, and adequately powerful central government. However the maritime delegates disagreed and those from Lower Canada persisted on control over language, religion, and civil law. The result was a compromise-a federal system in which each province will have its own legislature and powers were divided between the federal and provincial governments. But there was a complication of decent representation of the small provinces in the federal provinces. The House of commons, with 194 members, was to be based on representation of population. Which meant that upper and lower Canada would have the most seats. Prince Edward island was bothered by being assigned six seats, Newfoundland did better with eight seats.The delegates of the Atlantic colonies didn’t try to insist for equal provincial representation. Upper and lower canada each got 24 members, and three maritime provinces would have 24 altogether, with an extra four senate members for Newfoundland. What made the situation worse was that they were appointed for life.

[] [] []
 * Bibliography**